Precision Ceramics Add Smooth Technology To Manufacturing Capability

To meet the ever-increasing quality demands of our customers, Precision Ceramics has consistently invested in the very latest state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment. As a result, a bank of multi-station machining centres now stand side-by-side at our UK headquarters in Birmingham allowing us to produce even the most complex of technical ceramic components efficiently, economically and to the very highest specifications.

As you would expect from such a high-tech manufacturing operation, drilling, grinding, milling, tapping, threading and turning are all standard everyday processes but recent investment has allowed the introduction of 4th and 5th axis machining centers, significantly increasing the versatility of our manufacturing process and decreasing the number of operations required. So much so that now, after detailed programming by our highly-experienced operators, a block of raw technical ceramic material can be loaded into one of our machines and half-an-hour later, a complex bespoke component can be complete and ready for final inspection.

The majority of the state-of-the-art machines which grace our shop floor are manufactured by the Japanese Yamazaki Mazak Corporation and the latest addition – a MAZATROL SMOOTHG CNC – is no exception.

Yamazaki Mazak is set to revolutionise the world of CNC and deliver a step-change in machine control and performance with the launch of its SMOOTH TECHNOLOGY and Precision Ceramics are already on board.

SMOOTH TECHNOLOGY incorporates the new MAZATROL SMOOTHG CNC alongside new machine hardware and servo systems to deliver an improved operator experience, faster machining times and further integrate CNC into the overall factory management system. The result is a breakthrough in CNC that uses intuitive operations in a similar manner to smartphones and tablets.This new machine is the fastest CNC in the world and comes with the absolute latest hardware and software for unprecedented operational speed and precision. Other advanced features include …

Touch screen operation similar to a smart phone or tablet

Easy conversation programming of multiple surface machining

Smooth user graphic interface and support functions for unsurpassed ease of operation

Yamazaki Mazak was established in 1919 and in nearly a century of operation they have made a significant contribution to the development of the machine tool industry as a leading global company. Yamazaki Mazak manufactures not only advanced machine tools such as multi-tasking centers, CNC turning centers, machining centers and laser processing machines but also automation systems with the concept of ‘done in one’ to support global manufacturing by providing exceptional productivity and versatility.

The company began the establishment of overseas facilities in 1974 and today, Yamazaki Mazak has five manufacturing plants in the China, Singapore, the UK and USA. Through this global network, Yamazaki Mazak has been supplying high quality before and after-sales service and support developing strong relationships with customers all over the world.

It is on the basis of one of these strong relationships that in early July a film crew arrived at Precision Ceramics HQ in Birmingham to record our technical ceramic component manufacturing operations on behalf of Mazak and a YouTube version of the case study has now been launched narrated by Precision Ceramics Business Director, Geoff Randle